Why Les Paul Customs for Metal???

B

Boogie Bill

New member
Curious, I was just flipping through a new issue of "Guitar World", I believe it was, and noticed that many of the young Metal bands these days seem to prefer Les Paul Custom models--or at least having their pictures taken with a Custom in hand.

Not Standard, Historic, Classic, Studio, Specials, Juniors or even Jimmy Page models--but your old basic black Les Paul Custom.

Is it Zakk's influence? Or Randy Rhodes? (He slung an Alpine White Custom in his "early" days.)

Or just something about BLACK guitars...?

What makes the Les Paul Custom model the choice of so many of today's young Metal devotees?

Inquiring minds want to know!!!!

Bill
 
Re: Why Les Paul Customs for Metal???

Because people like the way they feel and sound... there is no other reason.
 
Re: Why Les Paul Customs for Metal???

I think it may just be that they pretty much kick a lot of @$$. They're Pauls so they sound thick in the rhythm department and they cut through the mix with leads. At least in my experience anyway Maybe these guys just picked up on it? Or that they look really, really freakin' cool?
 
Re: Why Les Paul Customs for Metal???

Zerb said it. It's the tone and feel. They just kick major @ss. It is the only Gibby LP I would every buy, new or used.
 
Re: Why Les Paul Customs for Metal???

The main thing that sets a custom apart from other LP's is the usual ebony finger board. This gives a more tight, focused, bass, with a lot of thump, and screaming leads with even more enhanced sustain.
 
Re: Why Les Paul Customs for Metal???

Another reason (I think) that they are favored over other LP's is because they are all mahogany- no maple cap= less brightness, darker tone.
 
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Re: Why Les Paul Customs for Metal???

marvar said:
Another reason (I think) that they are favored over other LP's is because they are all mahogany- no maple cap= less brightness, darker tone.
Click to expand...

Modern (post 1955) Les Paul Customs have a maple top for the most part.... but there are a few reissues out there that have the original All-mahogany spec ;)
 
Re: Why Les Paul Customs for Metal???

marvar said:
Another reason (I think) that they are favored over other LP's is because they are all mahogany- no maple cap= less brightness, darker tone.
Click to expand...

They haven't been all mahogany for YEARS, since 1968 or so. The production ones still have maple caps, they only difference between a Custom and the others, tonewise, is the ebony fingerboard.

The Custom Shop Les Paul Custom reissues are all mahogany. I've played one, it way TOO warm, better suited for jazz.

Why do metal players prefer them? Who knows. I own one myself, I haven't had a chance to play it side by side with a Standard, but they seem to have a more focused metal tone due to the ebony fretboard.

The frets on a custom are low and flat, which makes them play like butter with the ebony fretboard, though they wear quicker than the jumbos used on a standard.

All I know is I get MONSTER metal tone out of mine with the EMG 81/85 setup
 
Re: Why Les Paul Customs for Metal???

ErikH said:
Depends on the year. Modern day LP Customs have a carved maple top.

http://www.gibsoncustom.com/flash/products/lespauls/lpcustom/LPCustom.html

Since when does Hetfield use LP Customs? He's been using ESP's for years and most recently the Truckster.
Click to expand...

When Gibson sued, or threaten to sue, ESP over making the explorer copies, they were no longer allowed to make the Explorers for Hetfield. During St. Anger he went back to playing a black '70's Les Paul Custom with stock pickups, gold racing stripe and iron cross screwed on the body. He used this, as well as a Gibson Explorer that was refinished in matt black and given a rusty pickguard- that can be seen in the St Anger video.

Soon after that ESP started making him their own "Les Paul Customs", which were Custom Shop Eclipse guitars. I saw them on tour for St. Anger, he must have had a dozen different ESP Les Pauls, as well as the Ken lawrence Explorer, and one of his old ESP Explorers. He also had a few baritone ESP vipers
 
Re: Why Les Paul Customs for Metal???

jmh151 said:
When Gibson sued, or threaten to sue, ESP over making the explorer copies, they were no longer allowed to make the Explorers for Hetfield. During St. Anger he went back to playing a black '70's Les Paul Custom with stock pickups, gold racing stripe and iron cross screwed on the body. He used this, as well as a Gibson Explorer that was refinished in matt black and given a rusty pickguard- that can be seen in the St Anger video.

Soon after that ESP started making him their own "Les Paul Customs", which were Custom Shop Eclipse guitars. I saw them on tour for St. Anger, he must have had a dozen different ESP Les Pauls, as well as the Ken lawrence Explorer, and one of his old ESP Explorers. He also had a few baritone ESP vipers
Click to expand...
Thanks. Didn't know that. All I know is one day I see him playing Explorers and the next it's the Truckster.
 
Re: Why Les Paul Customs for Metal???

All other things identical (in other words exact same guitar, remove and swap the fretboard), the LPC will be a bit more defined and percussive due to the ebony fretboard. IMO this is a good thing ;)
 
Re: Why Les Paul Customs for Metal???

jmh151 said:
When Gibson sued, or threaten to sue, ESP over making the explorer copies, they were no longer allowed to make the Explorers for Hetfield. During St. Anger he went back to playing a black '70's Les Paul Custom with stock pickups, gold racing stripe and iron cross screwed on the body. He used this, as well as a Gibson Explorer that was refinished in matt black and given a rusty pickguard- that can be seen in the St Anger video.
Click to expand...

The pickups on that Gibson Custom were actually EMG's that were fitted with the pickup covers so the guitar would appear to still be stock.

That guitar is featured heavily in the live footage in the "Some Kind Of Monster" documentary.
 
Re: Why Les Paul Customs for Metal???

Skarekrough said:
The pickups on that Gibson Custom were actually EMG's that were fitted with the pickup covers so the guitar would appear to still be stock.

That guitar is featured heavily in the live footage in the "Some Kind Of Monster" documentary.
Click to expand...

I heard that, but I have EMG's and have tried to put the Gibson pickup covers and polepieces on, it seemed impossible, but then again, you pay someone enough money and they'll make it work.

The Truckster is a piece of garbage. He had many way cooler ESP Eclipses when he played live in NY in April 2004. He had 4 painted in really cool hot rod colors- purple and gold, green, I haven't seen these guitars on any web site since. I was front row and these were full Les Paul thickness, fully bound Les Paul copies with the ESP headstock and flag inlays. NOT the thin Trucksters I've seen in stores.
 
Re: Why Les Paul Customs for Metal???

It's possible, I've done it to a set of EMGs for my lp custom copy awhile back.

James has used Les pauls since the mid 90s, mainly in the studio though. He started to use eclipses and les pauls live around 1998. these days, he has about 3 Gibson LP Customs that go on tour. The cross Uncle Milty, The purple one, and another stock looking black custom.

MJ
 
Re: Why Les Paul Customs for Metal???

jmh151 said:
I heard that, but I have EMG's and have tried to put the Gibson pickup covers and polepieces on, it seemed impossible, but then again, you pay someone enough money and they'll make it work.....
Click to expand...

You have to Dremel /File away a good portion of the resin block, but it will work ;)
 
Re: Why Les Paul Customs for Metal???

Yep, but ya gotta wax pot them if you use a metal cover.


gibsonlpcustom.jpg
gibsonlppurplefront.jpg



MJ
 
Re: Why Les Paul Customs for Metal???

Something suspicious about the purple one- the laquer on the headstock inlays hasn't yellowed. Almost as if they refinished a new Les Paul but aged the binding
 
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